Past Present Future What If… The French Revolution Had Happened in China?
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Aug 11, 2024 
Ayse Zarakol, a world historian known for her insights on global power dynamics, joins the conversation. They explore the fascinating idea of the French Revolution occurring in China and how it could have reshaped global powers. Topics include the similarities between historical revolutions in the East and West, the reassessment of China’s historical strength, and the implications of leaders like Genghis Khan. Zarakol also raises intriguing questions about what a different Industrial Revolution in Asia might mean for world history.
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The Great Divergence
- The "Great Divergence" refers to the West's rise and the East's relative stagnation around 1700.
- Historians often attribute this to structural factors in European society, but this can be questioned.
Alternative History
- Ayse Zarakol suggests the Industrial Revolution in Japan and a French Revolution-like event in China could have altered history.
- These two events are key to the Great Divergence, with similar conditions present in both East and West.
White Lotus Rebellion
- The White Lotus Rebellion in China (1794) mirrored the French Revolution in its challenge to centralized power.
- However, differing variables led to different outcomes, highlighting historical contingency.